PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Carex polyantha F.Muell.
Family Cyperaceae
Carex polyantha F.Muell. APNI*

Description: Rhizome long; shoots densely tufted. Culms erect, trigonous, smooth below, scabrous above, 20–80(-170) cm long, c. 2.5 mm diam.

Leaves about as long as culms; blade 4–9(-12) mm wide; sheath orange-brown; ligule acute to retuse.

Inflorescence erect, 10–55 cm long, with 5–8 spikes solitary at nodes; lowest involucral bracts exceeding inflorescence. Spikes sessile, distant, erect to spreading at maturity, 2–17 cm long, upper 1–5 spikes male or occasionally androgynous; lower spikes female or androgynous. Glumes very narrow, acute to acuminate, dark red-brown with paler midrib; female glumes 2–3.5 mm long. Perigynia (utricles) obovoid to ovoid, nerveless or faintly nerved, 2–3 mm long, c. 1.5 mm diam., glabrous, occasionally minutely papillose at apex, pale brown but densely red-dotted; short beak c. 0.3 mm long, with apex truncate or notched. Anthers 1.5–2.5 mm long excluding appendage to 0.1 mm long. Style 2-fid.

Nut obovoid, lenticular in cross section, pale yellow.


Habitat
Photo J. Miles

Fruit
Photo J. Miles

Herbarium
Sheet

Herbarium
Sheet

Flowering: spring–summer.

Distribution and occurrence: On the coast and tablelands, only on the eastern edge of NWS (Warrabah N.P.).

Grows in swamps and creek banks.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
AVH map***

Perigynium body usually tapers more abruptly to the beak than in C. gaudichaudiana and C. hypandra.

Text by K. L. Wilson (1993); edited KL Wilson (Aug 2016; Jan 2023)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)


APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET